ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Here's a hint for all the MLB teams on the Indians' schedule this year. Want to know how to beat the Tribe?

Just dust off a left-handed starter, just about any lefty will do, and send him to the mound. Your worries should be over.

The Rays did that Saturday night with Erik Bedard and all he did was throw six scoreless innings on the way to a 7-1 victory that ended the Indians' four-game winning streak. It was only the second victory for Bedard in 17 starts.

The Indians tore up lefty starters last year to the tune of a 36-20 record. So far this year they're 4-9 in games started by lefties. Saturday was Bedard's first victory over the Tribe in eight years.

What's the problem? Well, the Tribe hitters who crushed lefties last year are being crushed this year. Check out these numbers:

"When we get going, we'll be fine," said manager Terry Francona. "To the present Carlos is pretty big for us and Raburn is pretty big for us. I'm not blaming them, but a lot of times last year against a lefty they were hitting fourth and fifth with a OPS of probably 1.000.

"Raburn is starting to show signs of swinging the bat. We've got to get Carlos going."

Bedard allowed one hit, while walking three and striking out four.

"He's been around a long time and he know how to pitch," said right fielder David Murphy. "He wasn't necessarily mixing his location as much as he was mixing his speeds."

Francona said that wasn't the only thing Bedard was mixing.

"He mixed and matched not with just his speed, but with his delivery," Francona. "He mixed and matched angles, speeds and everything. We hit a lot of lazy fly balls and that's exactly what he wants you to do."

Zach McAllister (3-3, 3.89) spent his eighth start of the season looking for some run support. It never materialized.

McAllister, who has lost his last three starts against the Rays, allowed five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one on 69 pitches.

"Zach struggled with his off-speed stuff," said Francona. "From the very first inning he was working behind. At some point that catches up.

"He didn't throw a lot of off speed stuff to get them off his fastball so he really had to located."

Raburn's double in the second was the extent of the Tribe's offense against Bedard. After Raburn doubled, Asdrubal Cabrera struck out and Gomes flied out to end the inning.

In the fourth, Swisher and Michael Brantley walked to open the inning. Bedard (2-1, 3.38) quickly restored order by striking out Santana, popping up Raburn and retiring Cabrera on a fly ball to center.

McAllister opened with two scoreless innings, but couldn't stop the Rays in the third. Desmond Jennings hit a leadoff single and stole second with two out. David DeJesus who had four hits against the Tribe on Friday, followed with a single to right to for a 1-0 lead.

"They were aggressive in the strike zone and they were aggressive with my fastball," said McAllister.

The Rays, who broke a four-game losing streak, made it 3-0 in the fourth. After James Loney singled and went to third on Wil Myers double with one out, Matt Joyce made it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly.

McAllister put himself in hot water by walking Jennings and Yunel Escobar made him pay with a RBI single to to right.

The Rays continued to expand the lead with two more runs in the fifth off McAllister. Evan Longoria's double and Loney's single accounted for the runs and a 5-0 lead.

The Rays added two more runs in the seventh. They were both charged to Josh Outman, who started the inning. Zobrist doubled with one out and Outman intentionally walked Longoria. Loney singled home Zobrist to bring Carlos Carrasco to the mound.

In his second relief appearance since losing his spot in the rotation, Carrasco walked Myers to load the bases and gave up a sacrifice fly to Joyce to make it 7-0.

Lonnie Chisenhall, who made his big league debut at first base as a defensive replacement for Swisher in the eighth, gave the Indians their second hit with a leadoff single in the ninth.

Chisenhall's single sparked a small rally by the Tribe. Brantley followed with a single and Santana walked to load the bases against Grant Balfour. Raburn's sacrifice fly prevented the Tribe from being shutout for the third time this season.

"The Rays had a good offensive night," said Murphy. "They put up seven runs. I think the key right now for us is that when we play well or pretty well, we need to win those games. Games like tonight, I don't think I'm going to lose any sleep over."

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